DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE

JOHNSON COUNTY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 9AM-10AM

Zoom & Betty Sass Conference Room

Members Present:  Dawn Alam, Ines Beltre, Gary Boseneiler, Donna Brooks, John Hannaford, Mike Hensch, Cindy Hudson, Shannon Innis, Fiona Johnson, Kate Klefstad, Kristen Morrow, Laurie Nash, Annie Nugent, Kyle Phillips, Lynn Rose, BJ Salazar, and Lora Shramek.

Donna Brooks will be leaving the committee and Sean Donaldson will be joining.  Sean used to work for the African American Museum in Cedar Rapids.

New DEI Coordinator, Paola Jaramillo will be starting on March 7.

Next Meeting Date and Time:  Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Ice Breaker:  None.

Budget Balance:  $8,336.  Have a lunch for MH/DS expense.  Leave some funding for new DEI Corrdinator.  Will budget $4,000 for Juneteenth Celebration activities.

Juneteeth Activities:  RaQuishia Harrington will be forming a group for decision making on Juneteenth activities.  Some ideas for Juneteenth include:  Expand beyond Iowa City are into North Liberty or Coralville; Promote black owned businesses and have a Juneteenth history lesson at each business;  Diversity book club;  Resource Fair with resources that JoCo government can provide;  Exhibit from the African American Museum;  Diversity book drive to give away at event or put in small libraries;  Black owned food trucks at JoCo parking lot for a food day – also at Kent Park and SEATS/Roads locations.   The committee will partner with Juneteenth Committee on some of the ideas above.

Cultural Assessment discussion:  We could sent out the report and put the comments on the employee intranet.  It is important that we have some action items based on the results to show that the survey was worth the time.  The committee decided to wait for Paola to start working here and she will give a presentation at the Dept Head/Elected Officer meeting on the results and the action plan developed.  Next DH/EO meeting is in April.

Diversity Website: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/diversity

Kyle or John can post to the Diversity web page.